Gene X Hwang, founder of Orange Photography, just published his review of Steroid Nation by Shaun Assael, about the recent history of the anabolic steroid subculture. The book, in large part, is a biography of steroid guru Dan Duchaine who Assael identifies as one of the “founding fathers of the steroid movement.” Most people who came in contact with Duchaine have interesting stories to tell. Gene comments on his experiences with Dan at various bodybuilding shows Read more
Christopher Bell, the director of the steroid documentary Bigger Stronger Faster, joined a panel discussion on anabolic steroids on May 3, 2008 at Pace University in New York City. “Tribeca Talks: Injecting the American Dream” was part of the Tribeca Film Festival and ESPN Sports Film Festival. The discussion was moderated by Shaun Assael, author of Steroid Nation
America’s performance-enhancing appetite has never been bigger. And it’s not just in professional sports or Hollywood. From high school locker rooms to anti-aging clinics, our nation is embracing steroids and human growth hormones like never before, spurring a furious debate about the ethics of enhancement. Join Christopher Bell, who documented his brothers’ struggle to be “the best,” BALCO founder Victor Conte, Jon Romano and Mark Haskins in a provocative discussion about the pitfalls and promise of the asterisk era, and where we go from here. Moderated by Steroid Nation author Shaun Assael.
New Yorkers have really embraced the film; this was confirmed firsthand by Anthony Roberts who had the opportunity to see Bigger Faster Stronger for the second time witnessing a large crowd of bodybuilders at the screening. Several sports writers, bloggers, and movie critics have screened the film at Tribeca and have written mostly positive reviews.
If anyone had the opportunity to attend the panel discussion, please post your reactions to the event in the comments below.
I was prepared to read another commentary about the dangers of anabolic steroids when I started reading “The Truth About Steroids And Sports, How Performance-Enhancing Drugs Went Mainstream;” the article was written by CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta. It started off poorly:
So we all agree that steroids are bad, right? They’ve brought suspicion and shame.
Then it got a little better. Dr. Gupta starts talking about the therapeutic use of anabolic steroids in HIV patients. He talks about the therapeutic uses of steroids.
He seems impressed that steroids can be good but then discusses how the therapeutic uses for steroids were “hijacked” by athletes and especially bodybuilders. Blame the bodybuilders. Parties responsible for the hijacking include the “Arnoldistas” or followers of Arnold Schwarzenegger who, according to Shaun Assael, created a steroid “religion.”
He blamed talked about the “Underground Steroid Handbook” but didn’t even mention the author, Dan Duchaine!
Then Dr. Gupta’s credibility takes a major hit when he talks about growth hormone.
Then there’s human growth hormone (HGH), derived from the pituitary gland.
HGH derived from pituitary glands has not been used in medicine in decades. It is all recombinant human growth hormone nowadays.
I hoped that he could save the article he interviewed Christopher Bell, director and producer of the steroid documentary “Bigger Stronger Faster.”
But that hope was dashed when I learned that when taking anabolic steroids, “there’s always the risk of, you know, heart weakening and liver tumors.” And then I [again] learned Lyle Alzado blamed his brain cancer on steroid abuse.
Gupta asks what can be done about a good drug gone bad? The first thing we should stop doing is stop associating Lyle Alzado’s brain cancer with his steroid abuse. Why do we persist in repeating this again and again with the standard disclaimer that there is no medical evidence to support it?
